San Francisco Psychedelic Bands: The Solo Projects

The Best 60s San Francisco Psychedelic Scene Albums Ranked : • The Best 60s San Franc...

[@thegreatgroucho]

Another Great show Mazzy!

[@jackwezesa1081]

Mazzy I have an original “ The Soul Of A City Boy “ by Jesse Colin Young in mono on the Capitol rainbow label 1964 ! I still see the 74 reissue around. Great video !

[@DrWrapperband]

Just finished watching after stopping half way through - I've got that Jesse Young album somewhere, it was in my Discogs, but I couldn't find the LP anywhere. It drove me so mad looking that I bought another copy and have just cleaned and listened to it.

[@joyreed3357]

Hey you can grab 🍄 and psychs from Derrickseeds

[@joyreed3357]

Find them on 1nst@

[@markhoyle2275]

Really enjoyed this one. Thanks

[@rogersongster3967]

Yet another great video. Love what you do and how you do it. Your musical taste is very similar to my Dad and hence you often discuss music that was the soundtrack of our household in the late 60's and early 70's. You constantly introduce me to albums my Dad missed and would have loved if he had not "dissolved into hippie dust" quite a few years ago. That's a fucking great line by the way.

[@arnelarsen4379]

Another interesting topic-video from Mazzy this!

[@vincentbernard7504]

Hi Mazzy always a pleasure to listen to you talking about SF Bay Area. Great selection !!. I bought most of them in the Bay the last 4 years (Merci Rasputin Music!) hopefully because the one remaining in my want list is so hard to find in Europe !

[@tyesmith9661]

Mazzy- More like this! Love it. Thanks for your thoughts.

[@greghawkins229]

I lived a sheltered life and didn’t have any real exposure to music except via FM radio so all Of your details on these albums is greatly appreciated. Funny thing I have records you have Shown and never listened to. Being a collector first and listener second to most of my collection, I will be giving some a listening to this weekend. My intention has always been to play them but Time constraints prevent it

[@rundoetx]

Those autographed albums are increasing in value with each video!

[@davidholiday4494]

Hi Mazzy: I must also admit that Janis with Big Brother is always my favorite. The later 2 albums have their moments and I like them a lot but BB wasan ideal band for her energy. Of course one must also recognise her own desire to expand her musicality and she was still quite young and exploring where she might go. When she did the BB reunion in 1970 at Pepperland(?) I think that was the venue - I finally heard a recording of this and was astonished at how some tracks had been edited for the "In Concert" album. There was such an incredible 15 minute version of "All Is Loneliness" which completely knocked me out. BB also had a lot of fun with improvisation and it is sad that they are/were collared with the reputation that they were sloppy etc. They knew what they were doing!! Thanks for a great video.

[@3243_]

Yeah, I also prefer Janis with Big Brother. Their styles definitely fit each other.

[@keithwalker8090]

Country Joe, Incredible! Live! is a fun album, his introduction to Deep Down In Our Hearts, shows off his humor. Dan Hicks and the hot licks, saw them at least six times, that's entertainment. Mickey Hart does not get enough love for his skills, love the album Planet Drum. Love Hot Tuna, could we call that speed rock? If you ever get a chance to view Grace Slick's artwork, It's worth the time spent. Thanks for a great video and you will never be able to get S.F. out of your heart nor should you.

[@rundoetx]

I absolutely love Dan Hicks and the Hot Licks. Saw their reuniom show at the Paramount Theater in Austin Tx. The place was filled with celebrities. I met Gerry Garcia there that night. What fun.

[@scottbookman]

When my fiancé and i watch your videos i always say "i have that " and that's why you're my favorite vinyl channel !

[@mazzysmusic]

Congrats You make her watch this 😵‍💫🤠🤷🏻‍♂️😬

[@scottbookman]

@@mazzysmusic she loves vinyl ..we started our own record youtube channel inspired by you.

[@surfraptor]

Totally agree about Big Brother and Janis. My fav Country Joe McDonald albums, his tribute to Woodie Guthrie and his WWI album War War War. "The March of the Dead" is one of the most haunting songs ever. Oh and I had "Ace", "Garcia", "Blows Against the Empire"! Lost along the way. JA and Hot Tuna yes! Saw em in Amsterdam (double bill with the Doors) and Rotterdam. What a great band! Thanks! Cheers from Holland.

[@alm5693]

Enjoyed the video! -My favorite solo John Fogerty album was the second one on Asylum with his cover of "Almost Saturday Night", "Rockin' All Over The World" and the melancholy "Flyin' Away". The Blue Ridge Rangers record left me a little cold after Creedence. It was definitely his "McCartney" album. -Beau Brummell's guitarist and songwriter Ron Elliot put out a whimsical solo concept album called "The Candlestick Maker" in 1969. The copy I have has the green WB label but it's a reissue with no additional info at all. May have been a RSD issue but I can't remember when I bought it. -"Persuasion" was the first Santana song I heard on Twin Cities radio so I thought they were a hard rock band when I went to buy the LP. -Big YAYs to Boz Scaggs' first album and Hot Tuna Burgers. Also big yay to Cheap Thrills. -I've got Oar on CD (w/ extra tracks) but I can't get through it. Sorry.

[@mazzysmusic]

I just ordered the Eliott record last week. Still waiting.

[@alm5693]

@@mazzysmusic I'm less of a hippy than I was in the 70's so it's not something I go to often, but I really like Ron Elliot as a musician and writer. Any chance you have an album (Livin' In The Country) by Levitt & McClure that Elliot produced and wrote some songs for? Just two guys picking fat body electric guitars and singing. They're also musicians on the Candlestick album.

[@hamlinsondra]

Happy to see Boz's Moments LP get some props. Downright Woman is my favorite song of his. And thanks for the reminder about Dan Hicks. Good topic today.

[@jackwezesa1081]

Moments is soo good ! I played it death in high school ! Downright Woman is a beauty .

[@johntyndall1373]

Great video, Mazzy. I only got Blows Against the Empire when I purchased the RSD release - my bad. Don't forget Bodacious D.F. with Marty Balin.

[@mazzysmusic]

Yeah I no longer have Bodacious 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@johnmoreno96]

Another artist that did a solo album from Santana is Jose “Chepito” Areas(percussionist) titled Jose “Chepito” Areas, Columbia Records 1974. Great latin fusion…”Caliente” Great video..You “Left Your Heart in San Francisco” ☮✌☮

[@rocky-o]

good times and trippy shit...love it all....one person i was always sad i never got o see live was janis....but her voice influenced me so greatly..her power..her passion...keep the passion alive my friend...bless the beasts and the children...peace always..rocky

[@mikeroeder]

If you haven't had a chance to check it out, the official Grateful Dead Podcast (aka Good Ol Grateful Deadcast) by Jesse Jarnow and Rich Mayhan is essential and they've been moving along the 50 years ago timeline and last year's episodes about American Beauty and Workingman's Dead talk a lot about how the session work at Wally Heider's studio cross-pollinated a bunch of essential albums (most of which it seems you've covered here over the years). They cover the loosely affiliated Planet Earth Rock and Roll Orchestra which I believe is pretty much the lineup on Blows, but they're also the band behind Croz's WONDERFUL "If I Could Only Remember My Name." I think the deal was that the Jefferson Airplane negotiated with RCA to let them record wherever they wanted, so they pretty much outfitted a studio at Heider's studio which allowed them to create all of those side projects. The podcast credits this as the inspiration for the Dead to take over production of their own recordings rather than be indebted to Warners for the cost of recording, which allowed them also to spend more time recording.

[@Niels133]

Nice topic. Lot of background stuff I did not know about these albums.

[@750drums]

Nice overview, Mazzy, some great stuff. Surprised you didn't mention Marty Balin's Bodacious album.

[@mazzysmusic]

I no longer own a copy 🤷🏻‍♂️😵‍💫

[@brucybabyy7355]

excellent! i checked out DIGA was just going to play a track. played the whole thing. also found a live version of " fire on the mountain " Dan hicks as well never heard that one. just plain fun.

[@TRamone01]

I like the cover to Hot Tuna's Burgers. I'd get a reissue just for a cover without ring wear. Marty Balin's Hearts comes to mind. Thanks for a great video!

[@christopherkibler511]

Mazzy, I liked this idea of the spin-off projects. Another John Cipollina related project is Terry & the Pirates. Thanks, Chris

[@mazzysmusic]

Oh yeah.

[@collectrify]

Nice video, thank you! I would add: The Candlestickmaker by Ron Elliot of the Beau Brummels (beautiful 1969 psych-folk album), and Emergency Third Rail Power Trip (1983) by The Rain Parade featuring Alec Palao of the San Jose group Chocolate Watchband.

[@mazzysmusic]

I recently river a copy of the Elliot album. Hadn’t arrived yet

[@SDsailor7]

I left my heart in San Francisco, bring flowers in your head..Peace.

[@petejp1]

Great choices mazzy, I have about half of the ones you have. I always liked the kantner slick albums. Lots of good songs on there. The first 4 hot tuna albums are really good too. The first jerry and weir albums are great too.

[@mazzysmusic]

We both agree on everything here ❣️

[@petejp1]

@@mazzysmusic I don't know if this is something you would consider but it would be nice if someone made a video about grace slick's contribution to music. Anytime there's a show about women in rock, she almost never gets mentioned. I don't think most people realize what a powerhouse she was. I don't think she gets the credit she deserves. Just a thought. Thanks for all the great content.

[@albarton7189]

Hi Mazzy, greetings from Houston,. As a big fan of the Airplane, I really love, love, LOVE , LLLOOOVVVEEE the three Kantner lead albums, Blows Against the Empire, Sunfighter, and Baron von Tollboth and the Chrome Nun. The song "Sketches of China" is one of those songs I listen to all the time. Sunfighter has my favorite song about canabalism that only Grace Slick could get ways with. I have 4 different vinyl pressings of Blows Against the Empire, and its one of my favorite albums of all time. The Hot Tuna albums are all great. Kaukonen's Record Store Day releases of "The River Flows" are absolutely wonderful.. I agree with you about the later Jefferson Starship releases; I quit buying them after Earth. Any thoughts on the Blows Against the Empire follow up, Planet Earth Rock and Roll Orchestra?

[@3243_]

I definitely agree with you about Janis Joplin with Big Brother and the Holding Company. Together they were special.

[@dannyschneider553]

Jesse Colin young song for juli excellent

[@twofromthetrunk9932]

Janis Joplin was my early favorite. Watched such a great documentary on her sad life. Ruby Star always reminded me of her in a certain way. Maybe it was the raw energy they both had. John Fogerty centerfield is played at our little league games every Sunday. Country Joe was my first taste of Woodstock. Early Santana was always my favorite but I did dig Caravanserai. Grace slick , was just so iconic to the SF scene.

[@happyhippythevinylguy]

I have seen that Jerry Garcia album forever but have never got it, (the 1st one you showed) don't know why..LoL I think I will track a copy down. Great video my friend

[@mazzysmusic]

It’s a very good one ✌🏼

[@timhewtson6212]

Your comment about 'Baron Von Tolbooth and the Chrome Nun' not being essential got me listening to that and 'Blows Against the Empire' in chronological order, back to back. And I'm still going to argue that 'Baron Von' is very much the better album. It has the better tunes, the harmony vocals are very much tighter, the cross-playing of the guitarists Jerry Garcia, Craig Chaquico and Jorma Kaukonen is spectacular, and Grace Slick is at her most full-throated and indeed literally orgasmic on 'All Across the Board' ("Seven inches of pleasure going home"). Thren there is David Freiberg's bass work as it growls and yowls like a demented cello on a battery of special effects. There are some great lyrics too. The theme of revolution in 'Flowers in the Night' goes "Plants that cannot bloom by day must flower in the night." Elsewhere in the song, Louis XVI exclaims, "The mercenaries have gone over to the mob, you say? Doesn't money mean anything?" For me, this is absolutely the best album to come out of the Jefferson fleet, whether airplane or starship.

[@danielguthrie3014]

Love Blows Against the Empire and Starfighter

[@thomasmoher9089]

How can I miss you, when you won't go away...

[@reneaceves8820]

Hi Norman. This is such a great little trip into a lesser know facet of the Bay Area sound. I never really listened to Weir's Ace until recently. I agree, it's a real gem. On the other hand, parts of Kingfish (which you wisely left out) border on yacht rock. Garcia's first outing is great in the song department, but also contains some dispensable "experimental" filler. I disagree with you on Paul and Grace's Sunfighter, which has plenty of great musical moments, the exception perhaps being Earth Mother. Maybe they were doing Jack Traylor a favor or something. I was somewhat disenchanted with Baron von Tollbooth at the time it came out, but now I enjoy listening to it. I have a very odd story about that record which maybe I'll share later. I also love the first two Stoneground albums. I saw them in 1971 and they were incredibly inspiring, kind of like a Mad Dogs and Englishmen but with better songs.

[@rundoetx]

Dissolves into Hippie Dust. What a halarious ad lib, lol. Somehow this could become a movement. I envision tye dyed t shirts.

[@mazzysmusic]

Ha 🕺🤷🏻‍♂️

[@jimmymelendez1836]

The Sunfighter album had a very deep and heavy song called Silver Spoon. According to Wikipedia, it says, The song "Silver Spoon" concerns cannibalism. According to the liner notes, Grace Slick, now a vegan,[5] conceived of the song out of frustration with pressure from vegetarian neighbors in Bolinas, California, where she and Kantner had recently moved. I have never heard of this album. I had put in that song on one of my playlists. I have listened to the song and whoa! Here are some of the lyrics. Throw down all your Silver spoons Eat all of the raw meat With your hands Pick it up piece by piece Pick it up piece by piece Pick it up piece by piece Where are the bodies for dinner? I want my food! What if you were starving to death And the only food you had was me What would you say to the cannibal question Would your answer be perfectly free? And that's just the tip of the iceberg. Holy geez! I never heard of a song that deep. I never knew these albums existed. I only know Jefferson Airplane/Starship. I love the songs from the Jefferson Airplane era. I'm younger than you are. I was born around the time Jefferson Starship was big. They did a guest appearance on the Star Wars Holiday Special. I never knew they were in such a special let alone the show that has the Star Wars characters in it. By the time I grew a little older in the mid 80's, the band was now Starship and their songs that became hits were We Built This City, Sara, Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now, all those songs. When I was a kid, I never knew who Jefferson Airplane was. Or even Jefferson Starship. I think I remember Jane from one of the albums from the late 70's early 80's. I remember seeing an old clip from a TV show of Jefferson Airplane performing Somebody To Love. Great song. I think that was when the album Starship was released. I think it was on an entertainment news program like Entertainment Tonight. I can remember it vividly. I was sitting in the kitchen eating homemade sliders. We loved White Castle. I think my mom made em'. I can remember how it tasted. It was different from the way the burgers from White Castle had tasted. When I started hearing songs from Jefferson Airplane, it really got my attention. In the late 90's I had gotten a compilation CD that had some Jefferson Airplane songs. The movie Forest Gump had at least one song, I think it had. It was Volunteers. Now I have some of the songs on some of my playlists. White Rabbit is one of my faves. You have mentioned Santana on your video, we had a couple of their albums. That's another band that I like. I always like your collection of records. You really have a great taste in music. ✌

[@mazzysmusic]

Cool story about the song. Lots of great music to dive into ✌🏼

[@glennsmusicchannel]

Always loved Dan Hicks. I saw a reconstituted Hot Licks with Dan in about 2009, front row.

[@dangaucher2245]

I like the band Earthquake a lot and Gary Phillips was in Copperhead then joined Earthquake a bit later

[@ChordtoChord]

Grace Slick's "Dreams" in 1980 is very interesting. She was clearly getting past a deep addiction issue that is reflected more than once in the songs. Most of the songs were not written by Slick. But they were compelling song choices. It is Slick, freed from the bounds of "the San Francisco sound!"

[@jackwezesa1081]

Very good and forgotten album.

[@JohnJohnson-cn9fh]

@@jackwezesa1081 planet earth rock and roll orchestra from the early 80,s is another forgotten and underrated gem.jpj

[@jackwezesa1081]

@@JohnJohnson-cn9fh I completely forgot about that record John. I’m going to dig it out right now. I had Dragonfly on the turntable this afternoon . Thanks!

[@philmole1209]

Not only could "Old Man Down the Road" have been a CCR song, but it basically was. It's a virtual rewrite of "Run Through the Jungle," which is fine, because that was a great song.

[@cavewaller]

Love Country Joe with and without the Fish. May I put in a mention for War War War…. fantastic record

[@Labor_Jones]

I was into Stoneground (in that I did like the material) and I think I did own 3 of their albums. I was always looking for some awesome step up, but they gave what they had and it was good.

[@SDsailor7]

That Boz Scaggs album is a great one!

[@hasseelmerson]

This was a nice program and I love this musicstyle too. I am jealous of you who was at the right place at the right time I saw John CIppolina/Nick Gravenites in Stockholm Favourite band =Jefferson Airplane....

[@robotubetwob]

There's a whole thing with record labels trying to split singers from their bands, bc they thought the value was in the star. Tried to do the same thing with Morrison and the Doors. Can you imagine Jim without the other members. And Big Brother's contribution to Janis's sound is vastly underrated. She was not the same after she split.

[@Labor_Jones]

Janis was a lonely little girl and needed a family of some kind which gave Janis confidence without the Bottle or other crutch. kzbin.info/www/bejne/gWHCYWuogtF_qqs

[@mazzysmusic]

Oh yeah. Janis and Big Brother should have continued. They were a family and maybe she might not have died so young. Just maybe 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@billspencer4761]

Hey Mazz, maybe it’s time to rate the “Maslov Signature Series”, with a little context of how and why this group of albums came to be.

[@lancewilson7038]

The 1975 John Fogerty album is certainly worth remembering as well. It's better than Mardi Gras. Good choice with Out After Dark, a great Roy Loney LP - don't think it's on CD either. Just ordered the first two Dan Hicks CDs and a Boz Scaggs disc because of this video.

[@JohnJohnson-cn9fh]

indeed,big brother were a bit loose but they were the right band for janis,cheap thrills is a gem.jpj

[@lawrence5368]

I have to correct you. You mentioned a Quicksilver song called Have another hit. The song was actually called Fresh Air. I'm a also a huge Boz Scaggs fan. My favorite album of his was My Time. Which contained the title track, Might have to Cry and Freedom for the Stallion. Just a beautiful album that's not that easy to come by and was never reissued. Another great San Francisco band was It's a Beautiful Day. The violinist David LaFlamme did a solo album called White Bird. The song was a remake of the It's a Beautiful Day hit. It wasn't a bad album but never got much recognition.

[@mazzysmusic]

Yeah. I used to have that LaFlammne record. I knew Fresh Air but at the moment more folks would remember the have another hit line. Should have mentioned it. ✌🏼

[@martinbench3657]

Great video , love the San Francisco centric videos Question , it's 1974 and you can either see Hot Tuna or Jefferson Starship on a lovely summers night , who do you go watch ?

[@mazzysmusic]

Tuna by that time ✌🏼

[@jackwezesa1081]

How about Marty’s band !

[@bobburroughs6241]

Pearl was for me Janis's best. As much as I loved Joe and the Fish didn't follow him after. Dan Hicks wonderful. Boz Scaggs & Band and Moments are favourites before he went lounge - has made a great bluesy comeback in recent years. I'm a great Santana fan but never persevered with those 2. Blues for Salvador is a favourite solo. OAR is just extraordinary, somehow representing what Grape could have been. Loved Grace, the finest of that time and a favourite but not the solos, either her or Kantner. Hot Tuna different again and Jorma is and has been making fine music.

[@billbez7465]

Agree, always preferred Janis with Big Brother. Big Brother had that slightly amateurish style, which IMO, made the music even more enjoyable. Enjoyed the wide selection of solo psychedelic albums.

[@mazzysmusic]

Yeah they worked together

[@ivanfortuny2244]

the first 2 Quicksilver albums are Great Nicky Hopkins play piano and the great John cipollina on guitars.2 real Masterpieces.

[@janerdias8597]

🇧🇷

[@vinyltalkwithtavis3145]

Hey Mazzy!!! Is MusicMam still on KZbin?

[@mazzysmusic]

Not regularly. But occasionally. New channel called Rachel’s Ghost ✌🏼

[@timhewtson6212]

I couldn't agree more about Janis Joplin having a perfect backing band in Big Brother & the Holding Company. Clive Davies really messed up on that one. Another word for sloppy is "loose," in a way that really suited Janis' vocal style. If she had stayed with them, she might have lived. A criminal mistake. In The Grateful Dead Family, Robert Hunter's 'Tales of the Great Rum Runners' is definitely a favorite of mine. The pre-Jefferson Starship sound of 'Blows Against The Empire' and 'Baron Von Tolbooth' came out of the Pero Sessions, and I think it was Jefferson whatever at its best. I can't agree that 'Baron Von' is not essential. For me its their perfect album. Love 'Manhole' too, with Grace Slick really letting rip on the title track, well the only track really.

[@philippebryndzia3646]

viva la libertad

[@catfordlandia2253]

I'm with you on pretty much all your choices and comments here Mazzy! Janis - never better than when with Big Brother. Stoneground - strictly 2nd division - a pity Sal Valentino couldn't have worked with a better and more sympathetic group after the Beau Brummels. 'Quah' - what a great underrated album! But.... no place for Bodacious DF with Marty Balin? Didn't set the world on fire but a good record especially 'Drivin' Me Crazy'.... Love from London.

[@mazzysmusic]

I no longer own a copy of Bodacious???

[@yatestom4845]

hello norman do you know copperhead with john cipollina?

[@mazzysmusic]

Yeah I’ve showed that Columbia record somewhere here before. Saw them once live. Roller Derby Star 💫

[@kenvelickoff4275]

Have done one about groups were big at the time but never made it real big

[@mazzysmusic]

I have not

[@tardisrider613]

You must be thinking of a different John Kahn. The one on the Garcia record was Garcia's bass player for all his non-GD work. Was married (or whatever) with Maria Muldaur for a while.

[@mazzysmusic]

Right ✌🏼

[@Labor_Jones]

You left out 'Sons of Champlin' who I'd have been a bigger fan if I hadn't had Chicago Transit Authority. I seem to remember they were both released (albums) near the same period. anyway I found the Double Album debut and I need to clean it up and that on "NOW :)"

[@mazzysmusic]

Did Bill Champlin ever do a solo album ? Oit a fan of his Chicago years That is something different.

[@eatablelove]

You mean 'Sons of Champlin'?

[@Labor_Jones]

@@eatablelove thanks, it was early...

[@Labor_Jones]

Wiki said yes to solo albums. It appears this guy still has an ongoing career.

[@jp1194]

I love Tollbooth, Manhole, Blows Against, Sunfighter, Bark and Long John Silver. Not really into the early JA stuff so much but also love electric Hot Tuna, not into that 1st record at all. The folky stuff is not for me. I dig the heavier weirder shit.

[@kingofallmediums2123]

Trivia Question: What was Dino Valenti’s real name?

[@mazzysmusic]

Chet Powers which I mention in the video during the Jesse Colin Young section

[@marktrickett5081]

Stoneground = Dracula '72 movie Dracula gets groovy mmaann.

[@danielguthrie3014]

What if Janis did not leave Big Brother? Those guys cared about her

[@kingofallmediums2123]

Trivia: Country Joe McDonald was named after Joseph Stalin. Both his parents we’re communists

[@ronlight7013]

You said “Cheap Trick,” ha,ha! I just know you’re a sucker for cheap thrills, Mazzy.

[@kingofallmediums2123]

Mazzy make a mistake? Never! 😆